Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 8
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Daniel 8
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Daniel 8
"In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first." — Daniel 8:1 (ASV)
The Hebrew language is resumed here. Since the visions recorded in the remaining portion of the book have no connection with Babylon, the Chaldean dialect is dropped.
Third year. —This most probably occurred not long before the end of his reign. This vision is supplementary to the one recorded in the preceding chapter, providing various details concerning the second and third empires omitted there, and also showing how a “little horn” is to grow out of the third as well as out of the fourth empire.
At the first — that is, earlier. (Compare Daniel 9:21.)
"And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai." — Daniel 8:2 (ASV)
At Shushan— that is, Susa. At this time (see Records of the Past, vol. 1, p. 71, etc.) Susa was, as Daniel describes it, in the province of Elam; at a later period it became the capital of the Persian empire. Daniel was at Susa only in vision; he was not bodily transported there. The Ulai is the river Eulæus, and is mentioned in connection with Susa in the inscription cited above.
"Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last." — Daniel 8:3 (ASV)
A ram — that is, a single ram. The ram was standing before the river, or eastward of it, and represented the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 8:20). The two horns, like the two breasts and arms of the image, or the two sides of the bear, symbolize the twofold character of this empire. The higher horn denotes the Persians, the dominant race. For other instances of rams and goats representing nations, compare Isaiah 14:9; Jeremiah 1:8; Zechariah 10:3.
"I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself." — Daniel 8:4 (ASV)
I saw the ram pushing. The ram pushes in three different directions. This corresponds to the three ribs in the mouth of the bear. The animal does not push towards the east, as it is presumed that he has already made conquests in those regions.
"And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes." — Daniel 8:5 (ASV)
An he goat.— This, according to Daniel 8:21, means the Greek empire, the large horn being the first king, or Alexander the Great. It may be remarked that the goat and the ram form the same contrast as the panther and the bear. Matchless activity is contrasted with physical strength and brutal fierceness.
Touched not the ground.— An exact prediction of the early conquests of Alexander, all whose movements were characterised by marvellous rapidity. This is expressed by the wings of a fowl (Daniel 7:6).
A notable horn.—See margin. This is explained (Daniel 8:21) to be Alexander himself.
Jump to: